Modular Combination Skid

ABSTRACT

A combination skid for supporting a plurality of skid-supported loads comprises a base having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of docking stations, each to receive a skid-supported load along a loading directional axis. The loading directional axis of the plurality of docking stations is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base. In a system aspect, a system for supporting one or more loads is provided. The system comprises a base having a longitudinal axis, at least one skid for supporting the one or more loads and at least one docking station to receive the at least one skid along a loading directional axis. The each of the loading directional axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/562,321 filed Jul. 31, 2012, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/660,680 filed Jun. 15, 2012and entitled, “MODULAR COMBINATION SKID”, the entirety of each of whichis incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to mounting skids for supporting loads,machinery and facilities such as light towers, fuel tanks, first-aidstations, portable washrooms and sewage systems. More specifically, theinvention relates to a modular combination skid particularly adapted fortransporting equipment used at oilfield wellsite locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the oilfield industry, many kinds of machinery and facilities aresupported by underlying skids, so as to provide portability and ease oftransport to and from an oilfield wellsite lease or site, typically viaa flatbed transport trailer or truck. Historically, a principal featureof such skids has been to build a properly sized skid for each type ofmachinery or facility. For example, Dynawinch Industries Ltd., ofCalgary, Alberta, Canada provides a double drum combination skid withcontrol cabin and diesel power pack that is supported by a single skidmeasuring 5.3 m (210 in) L×2.4 m (94 in) W. As another example, LeeSpecialties Ltd. of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada provide a three-piecee-line/combination skid which is comprised of a three separate skids,namely a power skid (supporting a ten kilowatt generator), a controlskid (supporting an operators cabin and hydraulic system drum drive) anda drum skid (supporting a drum spooling system), wherein each of theseseparate skids are sized according to the machinery or facility theysupport, each therefore have different dimensions from the other.

Typically a large picker truck or crane is used to place thisskid-mounted machinery or facility onto, or off of, a flat-bed transporttrailer or truck. Alternatively a forklift or a winch tractor may beused to load and off-load of such skid-mounted loads, without the use ofcranes. Suitable skilled operators, especially crane operators if cranesare utilized, will also be required to load and off-load suchskid-mounted loads. During times of economic boom, as often experiencedin the oilfield industry, there are often labor shortages for suchskilled operators, which then can impact on the transportation of suchskid-mounted loads.

Despite the increase in portability offered by the use of skids, thefact that there is generally no uniform or standardized sizing of theseskids results in inefficiencies. For example, smaller skid-mounted loadsmay be handled with a forklift, but then when larger loads are brought,a picker truck will also be required to load or off-load. Moreover,suitable load and off-load equipment (such as forklifts, picker truckand cranes) will usually be needed at both the oilfield wellsitelocation (where the skid-mounted equipment is needed and utilized) andat the warehouse, shop or storage site (where the skid-mounted equipmentis store, repaired and maintained); or such equipment will be needed toalso be transported between these locations along with the skid-mountedloads. This adds to the cost associated with transporting skid-mountedloads to and from various oilfield wellsites.

A further problem with conventional skid-mounted loads is that chainsand boomers (a link and lever mechanism which is used to tighten achain) are normally used to secure such a skid-mounted load on a truckor trailer during transport. The securing and unsecuring of such chainsadd to the workload associated with transporting skid-mounted loads toand from oilfield locations. Moreover, this securing and unsecuring ofchains and boomers present safety concerns to the person doing suchsecuring and unsecuring.

What is needed is a transport system which is simple in design and doesnot have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present invention areillustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detailin the figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are perspective views of an embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 2 a-2 c are perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a,showing a preferred sequence for loading/unloading a skid-supported loadonto the supporting base;

FIGS. 3 a-3 c are perspective views of the supporting base of theembodiment of FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are top and bottom perspective views of the skid ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 5 a-5 f are perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a,showing a preferred sequence for loading/unloading a skid-supported loadonto the supporting base, with FIGS. 5 e and 5 f being sectionedperspective views;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are perspective views of certain of the components ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 a, shown in a locked arrangement, FIGS. 7 a-7 fare perspective views of certain of the components of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 a, showing a partial loading/unloading sequence of angledpositions of the skid relative to the guide rails of the skidrestraining means;

FIGS. 8 a-8 d are perspective views of another embodiment of theinvention (wherein the supporting base is in substantially the form ofthe skid of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a-7 f, supporting two (smaller)skids and wherein the supporting base of this embodiment can bepositioned onto a base of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a, also showing apreferred sequence for loading/unloading the skid-supported load ontothe supporting base;

FIGS. 9 a-10 d are perspective views of certain of the components of theembodiment of FIG. 8 a, showing a partial loading/unloading sequence ofangled positions of the skid relative to the skid restraining means;

FIGS. 11 a-11 d are perspective views of yet another embodiment of theinvention, showing a skid-supported load being unloaded from thesupporting base using a hook-truck; and

FIG. 11 e is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 a, showingthree skid-supported loads loaded onto the supporting base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of exampleonly and without limitation to the combination of features necessary forcarrying the invention into effect. Reference is to be had to theFigures in which identical reference numbers identify similarcomponents. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures are shown in schematic or diagrammatic form in the interest ofclarity and conciseness.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, there isillustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention, generallyreferred to by the numeral 10.

A supporting base 12 is adapted to support and transport a plurality ofskids 14, the skids 14 each supporting various loads L as may be desired(collectively referred to as skid-supported loads), such as light towers14 l, fuel tanks 14 f, first-aid stations, portable washrooms,electricity generators 14 g and sewage treatment buildings 14 s. Thebase 12 has a longitudinal axis A and provides a plurality of dockingstations 16 for the skids 14 or the skid-supported loads L. Preferably,the plurality of docking stations 16 are provided in a serial, orin-line, manner along said axis A. For example, the embodiments of theinvention 10 shown in FIGS. 1 a-7 f provides five docking stations 16indicated by the numerals 16 a to 16 e; the embodiment of the invention10 shown in FIGS. 8 a-10 d provides two docking stations 16, indicatedby the numerals 16 a and 16 b; and the embodiment of the invention 10shown in FIGS. 11 a-11 e provides three docking stations 16, indicatedby the numerals 16 a to 16 c. However, other combinations ororientations of the plurality of docking stations 16 are also possible.

Although supporting base 12 is shown in a stationary embodiment in FIGS.1 a-10 d, a person of skill in the art would understand that base 12 mayalso be of the mobile variety, such as being placed on a transportabletrailer or being provided with suitable wheels and tow hitch means 12 h,such as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 a-11 e. Preferably, thevarious components of the invention 10, such as the base 12 and skids14, are made of steel or any other suitable material that providesadequate strength, durability and rigidity to support the various loadsL, including during transport. More preferably, the dimensions of theskids 14 are as large as possible to be transported on a highway (onbase 12) without the requirement of special permits. Even morepreferably, all the components of the present invention 10, includingthe skids 14, are sized to take maximum advantage of these regulatedtransportation dimensions.

Preferably, the skids 14 and the docking stations 16, of a particularembodiment of the invention 10, are all of substantially the samedimensions. That is, in a preferred embodiment, the skids 14 are allalike and the docking stations 16 are all alike, with each of thesubstantially identical docking stations 16 capable of receiving each ofthe substantially identical individual skids 14 which might comprise theplurality of skids 14. Together, the skids 14 and docking stations 16thereby being of a modular design, wherein one skid 14 having aparticular load L (e.g. a light tower 14 l) can be placed and secured(loaded/unloaded) in any available docking station 16 (e.g., for theembodiment of FIG. 1 a into, or out of, any of docking stations 16 athrough 16 e). In a preferred embodiment, skid 14 has a length and widthof 11 feet. In another embodiment, the length and width of the skid 14is 10 feet by 10 feet.

As mentioned, in a preferred embodiment, each skid 14 is substantiallyidentical and each skid 14, preferably, comprises a hook receivingmember or hook loop 18 for securely receiving a hook 20 from a hooktruck or hook-lift hoist 22 in a hooking position, for engagementtherewith and so as to allow the skid 14 to be loaded or unloaded from adocking station 16 by the hook truck 22 in a conventional manner (asmore clearly illustrated in FIGS. 11 b-11 d). The hook receiving member18 may be mounted to the skid 14 at a desirable height via aconventional A-frame member 18 a. More preferably, the hook truck 22 isa 6-wheel drive truck (to provide additional traction to move around anoilfield lease) and further comprises suitable hitch means 22 h so as tosecurely tow the supporting base 12 to different locations; see, forexample, the hook truck 22 and supporting base 12 as shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 11 a-11 e. Advantageously, hook truck 22 can beutilized to both tow the support base 12 to and from a desired oilfieldwellsite lease location and to load and unload skids 14 and loads L onto and off of the docking stations 16. By utilizing a single vehiclesuch as hook truck 22 to accomplish both tasks, there will be a reducedneed for additional equipment, such as forklifts and cranes andadditional skilled operators, such as crane operators.

Preferably, each skid 14 further comprises frame structure 24, whichsurrounds all or a portion of a particular load L that may be on theskid 14, such as in a frame or cage-like manner, thereby providingadditional protection to the load L, such as during transportation (suchas from tree branches that may impact load L), during maneuvering of theskid 14 (and load L) on or off the docking station 16 or duringmaneuvering of the skid 14 (and load L) in different positions around anoilfield wellsite lease or a warehouse site. More preferably, the framestructure 24 further comprises lifting points or lifting lug 26 to allowthe skid 14 and load L to be moved around to various desired locationson an oilfield lease, such as by a 30 ton picker that may be at suchoilfield lease. Lifting lugs 26 may be placed, as desirable, near thetop of frame structure or part way up the frame structure's height.

Preferably, each skid 14 further comprises one or more rollers 28 tofasciliate the loading and unloading of a skid 14 into or out of adocking station 16 (or onto or off of a hook truck 22). Advantageously,rollers 28 can roller on the upper surface of supporting base 12 whenthe skid 14 is being docked into or out of a docking station 16. See,for example, FIGS. 10 a-10 d. More preferably, the rollers 28 areprovided at an end of the skid 14 that is opposite to the hook receivingmember 18, the rollers 28 and hook receiving member 18 then defining aloading directional axis D of the skid 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of docking stations 16 areprovided in a serial, or in-line, manner along said axis A and furthercomprise skid restraining or securing means 30 to securely lock skids 14to the base 12 and prevent skids 14 from moving along axis A when skids14 are placed in a loaded position, such as during transport of theinvention 10. Skid restraining means 30 preferably comprises pairedguide rails 32 that mate with corresponding rails 34 underneath theskids 14 (see, for example, FIGS. 6 a-7 f). Preferably, guide rails 32are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A ofthe base 12 and, hence, substantially parallel to the loadingdirectional axis D. More preferably, skid restraining means 30 furthercomprises a ball 36 (projecting from the underside of skid 14) and afifth-wheel receiver hitch 38 (projecting up from base 12) which mateand lock together when the skid 14 is placed in the loaded position onthe base 12. Advantageously, ball 36 and hitch 38, further retaining andsecurely fasten skid 14 to base 12 when skid is in the loaded position(see FIGS. 6 a and 6 b). Even more preferably, skid restraining means 30further comprises wedge members 39, 40 projecting from skid 14 and base12 respectively at an end (on skid 14 and base 12) that is substantiallyopposite to the end where the ball 36 and hitch 38 are positioned.Advantageously, wedge members 39, 40 cooperate and mate to furtherrestrain and securely fasten skid 14 to base 12 when in a loadedposition. Even more advantageously, ball 36, hitch 38 and wedges 39, 40provide vertical restraining means to the skids 14, when in a loadedposition, so that the skids 14 do not lift or bounce off of the base 12if it is bumped during transport. Yet even more advantageously, skidrestraining means 30 reduce or eliminate the need for traditional chainsand boomers to secure a skid 14 or load L onto a base 12.

More advantageously, skid 14 can be easily moved onto or off of base 12(to and from the loaded position) by using a hook truck 22 in aconventional manner and angling and moving the skid 14 (with rollers 28rolling on base 12) as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 a-2 c, 5 a-5 f, 8a-10 d and 11 b-11 d.

As such, in a preferred embodiment, the modular skids 14 are loaded andunloaded, in a conventional manner using a hook truck 22, into thedocking stations 16 with their loading directional axis D being orientedsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the base 12.See, for example, FIGS. 2 a-2 c, 5 a-5 f, 8 a-10 d and 11 b-11 d. Morepreferably, each of the hitch 38 and wedge member 40 are provided on thesame (respective) sides of the base 12; see 3 a-3 c. Advantageously, allof the modular skids 14 can be loaded and unloaded into the modulardocking stations 16 from the same side of the base 12, thereby reducingthe need for a hook truck or the like to move back-and-forth from oneside of the base 12 to the other when manipulating skids 14 on or offthe base 12. Such a side can be referred to as the base's loading side12 l and the other side can then be referred to as a non-loading side 12n. More advantageously, the base 12 can be positioned with itsnon-loading side 12 n adjacent a wall, cliff or other obstacle, whilestill allowing for easy access to the docking stations 16 from theloading side 12 l . However, the invention 10 should not be understoodto be limited by having only a single loading side. In alternateembodiments (not-shown), the docking stations 16 could, for instance,alternate with each of their respective loading sides being positionedon one side of the base 12 or the opposite side of the base 12.

As mentioned, the loading and unloading of the skids 14 into or out ofthe docking stations 16 can be done by using a hook truck 22 in aconventional manner, as shown in the Figures and with the unloadingsequence being generally the reverse of the loading sequence.Advantageously, all loading, unloading and set up of the skids 14 andloads L can be done through one hook truck 22 often only requiring justa driver and swamper. This significantly reduces traditional labourcosts associated with setting up various facilities, such as lighttowers, fuel tanks, first-aid stations, portable washrooms and sewagesystems, on oilfield wellsite leases. More advantageously, the modularnature of the skids 14 and docking stations 16 allow for quick andefficient transportation of such equipment and facilities, by providingfor ease of combination or recombination of various modules 14 l, 14 f,14 g, 14 s onto a base 12 (e.g. in one case, two light towers 14 s and agenerator 14 g can be put on a base 12 and be transported to a wellsiterequiring such equipment, while a fuel tank 14 f and portable washroomare also placed on that base 12 to be transported to a second wellsiterequiring that equipment and being only a short distance away from thefirst wellsite).

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variousmodifications to the invention as described herein will be possiblewithout falling outside the scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is being claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A base forsupporting a plurality of skid-supported loads, the base having alongitudinal axis, the skid-supported loads each having a skid and atleast one first wedge member projecting from said skid, the basecomprising: a plurality of docking stations, each docking station tocapable of receiving one of said plurality of skid-supported loads alonga loading directional axis; skid restraining means, for each of theplurality of docking stations, said skid restraining means comprising:at least one second wedge member on the base capable of cooperating withat least one first wedge member of one of said plurality ofskid-supported loads, when said one skid-supported load is received inone of said plurality of docking stations, so as to restrain said oneskid-supported load to said one of said plurality of docking stationswhen said one skid-supported load is in a loaded position; wherein eachof the loading directional axis of said plurality of docking stations isoriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebase.
 2. The base of claim 1 wherein the plurality of docking stationsand the skid-supported loads are of a modular design, so that askid-supported load can be received by any one of the plurality ofdocking stations.
 3. The base of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofdocking stations are provided serially the longitudinal axis.
 4. Thebase of claim 1 wherein the skid restraining means further comprises aplurality of guide rails on the base that mate with a set ofcorresponding rails underneath one of said plurality of skid-supportedloads, when said one skid-supported load is in the loaded position. 5.The base of claim 4 wherein the guide rails are oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base.
 6. The base of claim5 wherein, for each of the plurality of docking stations, the skidrestraining means further comprises a hitch to receive a ball projectingfrom one of said plurality of skid-supported loads when said oneskid-supported load is placed in the loaded position.
 7. The base ofclaim 1 wherein the base has a loading side and a non-loading side. 8.The base of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises wheels and towhitch means.
 9. The base of claim 6 wherein the base has a loading sideand a non-loading side and wherein the hitch is provided substantiallyat the non-loading side and wherein the at least one second wedge memberis provided substantially at the loading side.
 10. The base of claim 9wherein the one of said plurality of skid-supported load furthercomprises a hook receiving member.
 11. The base of claim 1 wherein oneof said plurality of skid-supported loads is one of a light tower, afuel tank, a first-aid station, a portable washroom, an electricitygenerator or a sewage treatment building.